Cangolf caps amazing rally

DAVAO, Philippines – Canlubang got the job half-done in its quest for a “double four-peat.”

The Sugar Barons outgunned the opposition for the third straight day, completing an amazing comeback from an 18-point deficit in the first round to capture the 23rd Philippine Airlines Interclub seniors crown yesterday.

Tommy Manotoc (50), Luigi Yulo (47) and Rollie Viray (49) combined for 146 points at the Apo Golf course, beating the Luisitans in a nerve-wracking final-day showdown by seven to win a fourth straight crown by eight.

The Canlubang regulars take their turn to complete a “four-peat” in the 62nd PAL Interclub regular championship which comes off the wraps Wednesday.

The Canlubang seniors watched their Luisita counterparts fold up in the last five holes to pull off the biggest come-from-behind victory in the history of the event.

“Whatever it is, it feels good to win,” said Yulo, the Canlubang playing team owner. “It even feels most gratifying (winning via a come-from-behind fashion).”

“It was like scraping the bottom barrel. It was tough. It (the score) was even until the last five holes,” said Manotoc, the event’s top scorer with a 105 total on two rounds both played at Apo.

Pepot Inigo led Luisita with 50 in the final round and won the individual championship, counting together his 53 points in Rancho Palos Verdes in the first round.

Bong Sison added 45 and Iggy Clavecilla chipped in 44 as Luisita settled for second place with a 139-573 total, 38 ahead of third-placer Alabang (139-535). Manila Golf came in fourth with a 120-504.

“They’re gutsy and they deserve to win,” said Luisita mainstay Francis Gaston, praising the Sugar Barons on their victory.

Yulo said it was a tough character test for both teams with the Sugar Barons coming out victorious by handling the pressure better.

“As I’d said it was a tournament for Luisita to win. Had they played their game, it should have been theirs. But they folded up in the last five holes and we survived,” said Manotoc.

A point down before tee-off, the Luisitans banked on a strong start to storm ahead by three after the front nine.

The Luisitans, however, started on the wrong foot on the back nine with King Sumulong’s drive on the par-4 No. 10 going out of bounds. Sumulong picked up his ball on that hole.

Inigo, playing behind Sumulong’s flight, double-bogeyed then Sison and Clavecilla bogeyed the same hole.

The two teams still played neck-and-neck until the Luisitans succumbed to pressure in the closing holes.

Sumulong made back-to-back double-bogeys from No. 14, Sison struggled with a bogey-double-bogey-bogey finish and Clavecilla slowed down with three bogeys and a bogey in the last seven holes.

Manotoc, the Canlubang player in the last championship flight, had three birdies against two bogeys in the last five holes, drawing cheers from the gallery as he capped his round with a six-foot birdie putt.

Canlubang also got tremendous boost from Yulo, who beat Sison by four points in the last three holes.

With the win, Canlubang remained on course for a possible fourth straight twin championships – a feat never achieved in the PAL Interclub event.

Orchard made a big last-round charge with 137 points on 48 of Rene Unson, 45 of Nelson Lim and 44 of Andy Vasquez to beat Valley Golf (125-509) by five for the Founders Division championship. Camp John Hay came in third at 116-508 followed by Cebu Country Club at 131-502.

Mactan Island topped the Sportswriters Division with 131-524, followed by Riviera 125-488, Davao 120-469, Philippine Navy 124-464, Eagle Ridge 109-464, PGA British Columbia 122-463, Veterans 107-446 and Palos Verdes 113-445.

Players totaling 1,500 from 151 teams around the world are competing in the event sponsored by ABS-CBN Cable Channels & Print MediaGroup, Airbus, Boeing, Business Mirror, Mizuno, MTV Philippines, Radio Mindanao Network and Solar Sports and backed by Action Asia, Bombo Radyo, Crossover 105.1, People Asia, Royal Caribbean, XFM 92.3, PAGCOR, Rajah Broadcasting Network and Century Park Hotel.